Katherine Aerodrome
Silly Old Git
Perhaps someone should contact this mob and see what we got for our $3000?
Katherine Historical Society Inc: $3,000 to research the history of the original Katherine Airport and terminal building.
http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/ntas/grants/2000.html
Katherine Historical Society Inc: $3,000 to research the history of the original Katherine Airport and terminal building.
http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/ntas/grants/2000.html
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I was based at Tindal for quite a while.YPTN was built in the mid 70's as a "bare bones" RAAF base. I believe the old Katherine strip was closed about '75. The houses used by the construction squadron were vacated by the end of '75 and were then used for a short time to house some refugees from the Indonesian invasion of Portuguese Timor.
I started working at Tindal in the early 1980's and Tillair had definately been operating out of TN since 1977.
The RAAF used to come in every so often for an "excercise" bring in bladder tanks for a fuel dump etc. VB from the mobile mess was 20c a can!!
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772
Daly waters was built by Warren Andersen (mega rich ex partrolist and ex Coles,I think owner).
The strip is Huge, it was designed for 747 freighters to carry live cattle out to asia. The pastoral company never did get going but there was a very exotic private zoo there for some time.
The company used to own a LR35, C402 and AS350B which were based there and around the country as required. The whole thing fell into a hole some years ago, with Mr Andersen making the news for shooting, or trying to anyway, the exotic animals after some arguments about feeding and unkeep.
Last time I was there was in a B200 in 02 or 03, on an Airmed flight. Threre was an RAAF C130 parked on the end of the runway, not quite sure why!
richo
Daly waters was built by Warren Andersen (mega rich ex partrolist and ex Coles,I think owner).
The strip is Huge, it was designed for 747 freighters to carry live cattle out to asia. The pastoral company never did get going but there was a very exotic private zoo there for some time.
The company used to own a LR35, C402 and AS350B which were based there and around the country as required. The whole thing fell into a hole some years ago, with Mr Andersen making the news for shooting, or trying to anyway, the exotic animals after some arguments about feeding and unkeep.
Last time I was there was in a B200 in 02 or 03, on an Airmed flight. Threre was an RAAF C130 parked on the end of the runway, not quite sure why!
richo
Was that Daly Waters or Tipperary Station?
Tipperary had a brick and wrought iron fence around the whole strip if memory serves me correctly...!
And they had a 402C LBB. Was on line with NAC for a while, then sat idle for a bit. Where is it now?
Tipperary had a brick and wrought iron fence around the whole strip if memory serves me correctly...!
And they had a 402C LBB. Was on line with NAC for a while, then sat idle for a bit. Where is it now?
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Hi Stallie
Hows the Ice
There are several strps in the Douglas/Daly area but most are quite short dirt farm strips. The only strip in that area capable of jet ops is Dally waters or the Tipparary station strip. I have always known it as Dally Waters, had to use it once for a med evac from Dalr River Mission as thier strip was out.
the fence was around the whole complex, in fact you had to walk across the runway from the accommodation to get to the Office and hangar complex.
Hows the Ice
There are several strps in the Douglas/Daly area but most are quite short dirt farm strips. The only strip in that area capable of jet ops is Dally waters or the Tipparary station strip. I have always known it as Dally Waters, had to use it once for a med evac from Dalr River Mission as thier strip was out.
the fence was around the whole complex, in fact you had to walk across the runway from the accommodation to get to the Office and hangar complex.
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Crogs:
The KN FSU officially closed at 0539 UTC on 26 April 1978. The airport was formally de-commissioned as a licenced aerodrome at the same time but continued to operate as an ALA until the mid-'80s.
The unit originally commenced in April 1942 as "Katherine Aeradio" and the DCA Aeradio operators lived and provided the service from tents located near the old airport. In June 1942, the Aeradio unit was moved to a private residence near the civil hospital and stayed there until 29 October 1945 whereupon it moved to the old FSU building which is now the Historical Society building.
PPruners may be interested in some excerpts that describe what life was like as a DCA Aeradio operator at the time:
Somehow, I just can't see the modern ATS officer putting up with these conditions in order to serve the interests of Airservices or the aviation public.
My memory is fading but I thought that Katherin FS closed just before Cyclone Tracey and then was reopened after the event. Might be wrong though.
The unit originally commenced in April 1942 as "Katherine Aeradio" and the DCA Aeradio operators lived and provided the service from tents located near the old airport. In June 1942, the Aeradio unit was moved to a private residence near the civil hospital and stayed there until 29 October 1945 whereupon it moved to the old FSU building which is now the Historical Society building.
PPruners may be interested in some excerpts that describe what life was like as a DCA Aeradio operator at the time:
On arrival at this station I was very surprised to see the conditions under which the C.A. staff were carrying out their duties and living. The staff have tents and beds and so sleeping conditions are not so bad. Cooking is carried out in a small stove situated in the open and partially screened by a few sheets of galvanised iron. Messing takes place under a taupaulin spread over a wooden frame and no side protection from wind and dust. The actual operation of W/T is carried out in a primitive shelter which boasts of a so-called concrete floor with practically no protection from winds and the ever-present dust.
....Actually I am amazed that the radio functions under such conditions especially when it has been noted that every care is taken at other stations to combat the dust question. Sanitary conditions are very primitive and the flies are evident in their millions!
Generally, the conditions at Civil Aviation Station at Katherine are very trying and staff have endeavoured to make the best of things and they deserve credit for the way in which they carry out their duties under such conditions.
....Actually I am amazed that the radio functions under such conditions especially when it has been noted that every care is taken at other stations to combat the dust question. Sanitary conditions are very primitive and the flies are evident in their millions!
Generally, the conditions at Civil Aviation Station at Katherine are very trying and staff have endeavoured to make the best of things and they deserve credit for the way in which they carry out their duties under such conditions.
Katherine was home base for Dr Clyde Fenton, ca 1934-1939. He was a one man band medico/pilot in his succession of DH Moths, for Clyde had a great propensity for walking away from crashes, immediately resuming the fund raising for his next one. Clyde's "Flying Doctor" is one of the funniest books of it's kind ever published. One time on a stinking hot day he took off from DN for KT. In the front was the KT hospital matron. After an hour or so bouncing around Clyde was concerned to see her head and shoulders moving round vigorously. No voice tube and no radio needless to say.
Clyde hands her a note "You alright?"
Back comes matron's note. "Yes. I am now thank you. Now that I've got my blessed corsets off."
Hard book to come by. The Central Australian Air Museum in ASP had a few copies recently. Contact Perry Morey. (He, incidentally, is an authority on the life of the late Clyde. Has an unpublished bio.)
............................................................ ...........................................
Regarding the airport at Daly Waters - Peter 'Rocket' Wilson was a QF LAME based DN in 1049 days. He tells the story of EA-something bound DN-SY (ca. 1955) making an emergency landing at Daly Waters missing a section of cowl that's fallen off. Rocket hared down the highway with a set of steps (none in Daly Waters) on a trailor. Sized up the job then hunted round for some sheet metal. Ended up cutting a section off the sides of the steps to fashion a temporary repair.
Rocket also tells one about an Anglo Indian LAME working for QF in Karachi. Some dirty bastard has crapped in the wash basin of a 1049 staging through. Note in log says "Urinal used as arsinal". Said gent signs off item with "rectumfied."
And you won't read that little one in any footnotes to any QF history. Huddie would turn in his grave.
Clyde hands her a note "You alright?"
Back comes matron's note. "Yes. I am now thank you. Now that I've got my blessed corsets off."
Hard book to come by. The Central Australian Air Museum in ASP had a few copies recently. Contact Perry Morey. (He, incidentally, is an authority on the life of the late Clyde. Has an unpublished bio.)
............................................................ ...........................................
Regarding the airport at Daly Waters - Peter 'Rocket' Wilson was a QF LAME based DN in 1049 days. He tells the story of EA-something bound DN-SY (ca. 1955) making an emergency landing at Daly Waters missing a section of cowl that's fallen off. Rocket hared down the highway with a set of steps (none in Daly Waters) on a trailor. Sized up the job then hunted round for some sheet metal. Ended up cutting a section off the sides of the steps to fashion a temporary repair.
Rocket also tells one about an Anglo Indian LAME working for QF in Karachi. Some dirty bastard has crapped in the wash basin of a 1049 staging through. Note in log says "Urinal used as arsinal". Said gent signs off item with "rectumfied."
And you won't read that little one in any footnotes to any QF history. Huddie would turn in his grave.
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Daly Waters is nowhere near the Douglas/Daly district...
The old Tindal civil terminal building was bulldozed and a new one was built right next to it in the early 1990s. The Chartair building has another history, as someone pointed out. The old post office story does ring a bell.
The Ansett F28 service operated from that old civil terminal at Tindal until the operations ceased in 1990ish. Before that, the AN/TN daily F27 milk run operated out of there too. Look up Airliners.net and pics of TN F27 parked out front.
K
The old Tindal civil terminal building was bulldozed and a new one was built right next to it in the early 1990s. The Chartair building has another history, as someone pointed out. The old post office story does ring a bell.
The Ansett F28 service operated from that old civil terminal at Tindal until the operations ceased in 1990ish. Before that, the AN/TN daily F27 milk run operated out of there too. Look up Airliners.net and pics of TN F27 parked out front.
K
Last edited by Kanga767; 16th Jun 2008 at 03:42. Reason: history.
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fantome, reading that very book now. thats what you call an aeromed operation!
I also stayed in that building but never saw or felt a ghost. Used to have a really cool green tree frog door stop onto the veranda........up to the point I saw the door stop climb the wall to catch an insect.
The old airstrip, as stated still has the old terminal building and stil is a museum, if you are passing through Katherine it is well worth a look.
I also stayed in that building but never saw or felt a ghost. Used to have a really cool green tree frog door stop onto the veranda........up to the point I saw the door stop climb the wall to catch an insect.
The old airstrip, as stated still has the old terminal building and stil is a museum, if you are passing through Katherine it is well worth a look.
About 10 years ago there was usually a Mooney at the Manbulloo mango farm strip. One of the Darwin aero club guys told me the strip was used by the local skydiving club. That was one sweet looking aeroplane, but surely not suitable for meat bombing! Strangely it was also the only aircraft I ever saw there...
The Katherine Museum at the old town airstrip has (or did have pre 2006 flood) a Gypsy Moth that once belonged to Clyde Fenton.
The Katherine Museum at the old town airstrip has (or did have pre 2006 flood) a Gypsy Moth that once belonged to Clyde Fenton.
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manbulloo
the old strip was a haven for parachuting in the mid 80'swhen I was there
the club owned the old cessna 180 (r f o) - we called it rougho as it was!
Occiasionally a 206 (EED) was cross hired for night drops as RFO wasnt up to night flying standards
At that time manbulloo wasnt a mango farm - i have seen it recently they seem to have turned the runway into a road with sheds along it
I rember around 1987 a couple of line markers were convinced by a couple of slapbs of green cans to come in and repaint the markings on the runway - made it look pretty smick !
the club owned the old cessna 180 (r f o) - we called it rougho as it was!
Occiasionally a 206 (EED) was cross hired for night drops as RFO wasnt up to night flying standards
At that time manbulloo wasnt a mango farm - i have seen it recently they seem to have turned the runway into a road with sheds along it
I rember around 1987 a couple of line markers were convinced by a couple of slapbs of green cans to come in and repaint the markings on the runway - made it look pretty smick !
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tyndal builidngs
the other thing I remember is in ealry 1987 the old post office was moved to the airport and became till airs office
last time i was in town someone was living there!
last time i was in town someone was living there!
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From Fred Niven's Ansett history :
On 17 April 1991, Ansett N.T. ceased operations, after F28 VH-FKF operated the last Ansett W.A. F28 Darwin-Katherine-Tennant Creek-Alice Springs service.
Most services were taken over by Ansett./Ansett W.A., with the Alice Springs-Darwin ‘milk run’ being taken over by Skyport.
FKF had Ansett N.T. titles.
Skyport used C441 LEM and XMJ.
On 17 April 1991, Ansett N.T. ceased operations, after F28 VH-FKF operated the last Ansett W.A. F28 Darwin-Katherine-Tennant Creek-Alice Springs service.
Most services were taken over by Ansett./Ansett W.A., with the Alice Springs-Darwin ‘milk run’ being taken over by Skyport.
FKF had Ansett N.T. titles.
Skyport used C441 LEM and XMJ.
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Manbullo
Manbullo was built in the early forties as a maintenance base for B24 Liberator bombers, after VJ Day, Manbullo along with numerous other facilities throughout Northern Australia were vacated.
The runway became part of the access road between the Victoria Highway and Manbullo station, from memory the main product from Manbullo station was Rock melons.
The Katherine Skydiving Club aircraft RFO was in fact a 1958 C182A, due to it spending much of its early life operating out of Tennant Creek area it was relatively free of corrosion. Designed to run on 80-87 octane it required spark plug cleaning on a semi regular basis as the only Avgas available was 100-130.
There were numerous WW2 memorabilia discovered, partly buried including pistols,machine guns .50 cal,engines parts and a enormous quantity of live .50cal ammo dumped in a creek.
B52's from Guam would conduct low level navex's <500ft to the west of Tindal and the smoke from those engines was a sight to behold.
The runway became part of the access road between the Victoria Highway and Manbullo station, from memory the main product from Manbullo station was Rock melons.
The Katherine Skydiving Club aircraft RFO was in fact a 1958 C182A, due to it spending much of its early life operating out of Tennant Creek area it was relatively free of corrosion. Designed to run on 80-87 octane it required spark plug cleaning on a semi regular basis as the only Avgas available was 100-130.
There were numerous WW2 memorabilia discovered, partly buried including pistols,machine guns .50 cal,engines parts and a enormous quantity of live .50cal ammo dumped in a creek.
B52's from Guam would conduct low level navex's <500ft to the west of Tindal and the smoke from those engines was a sight to behold.
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b52 low level
i can remember seeing a low level b52 on my way back to tyndal one day - it sure caused a stir overflying the gorge
dg - i reckon you know a lot more about rfo than I do !
was your nickname bird related?
dg - i reckon you know a lot more about rfo than I do !
was your nickname bird related?